""While we've made great strides towards ending the substance use epidemic, far too many veterans are still losing their lives due to overdoses," said New Hampshire Sen. Jeanne Shaheen, a Democrat who is co-sponsoring the bill with Idaho Republican Sen. Mike Crapo in a rare bipartisan effort, in a statement to Business Insider. "That is unacceptable, and it's imperative that we explore every avenue to make life-saving treatments more accessible at the VA.""
"Naloxone, also known by the brand name Narcan, has proliferated across the country in the wake of the opioid epidemic, which peaked in 2022. It comes in a nasal spray or injectable form, reversing otherwise deadly overdoses for heroin, fentanyl, and other prescription drugs in just a couple of minutes, if administered quickly. The bill is the latest step in a yearslong effort to combat veteran overdose deaths, though it comes as US deaths from the opioid epidemic have started to decline."
A bipartisan bill would allow veterans and their caregivers to obtain naloxone free at VA facilities without a prescription. Veterans can currently buy naloxone over the counter at retail pharmacies but must have a prescription at VA clinics. Veterans face elevated overdose risks linked to chronic pain, mental-health challenges, and substance-use disorders. Naloxone (Narcan) is available as a nasal spray or injectable and can reverse overdoses from heroin, fentanyl, and prescription opioids within minutes if administered quickly. Expanded naloxone access has contributed to a national decline in opioid-related deaths, and the bill continues a yearslong effort to reduce veteran overdose fatalities.
Read at Business Insider
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